Effect of chromium content and solution treatment on pitting corrosion resistance of sintered CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy
摘要
To enhance the poor pitting corrosion resistance of sintered CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs), methods of increasing the Cr content and applying solution treatment to the alloys were employed, and the material characterization and polarization in NaCl solution were investigated. All as-sintered alloys exhibited Cr-rich zones with elevated oxygen, carbon, and manganese concentrations. While increasing the Cr content to 36% in Cr36Mn16Fe16Co16Ni16 led to larger Cr-rich zones and higher matrix Cr content, its corrosion resistance remained comparable to that of Cr20Mn20Fe20Co20Ni20. This limited improvement highlights the need for alternative treatment strategies. Therefore, this study investigated the solution treatment and found that temperatures above 1393 K for 3 h significantly enhanced the pitting corrosion resistance of Cr20Mn20Fe20Co20Ni20, with the highest pitting potential of 180 mV at 1423 K, defined at a current density of 100 μA/cm2. This improvement was attributed to the diffusion of Cr from the Cr-rich zones into the matrix, which homogenized the Cr distribution. This homogenization is proposed to strengthen the passivity of the matrix and minimize electrochemical discontinuities at the former Cr-rich zone interface, leading to enhanced corrosion resistance. These findings provide insights into the optimization of the pitting corrosion resistance of sintered HEAs through compositional and microstructural control.